Far North Youth Council

12/05/2025

Do you have a passion for Climate Action and an interest in creating films?

The climate crisis is scary, but there are a lot of people in Te Tai Tokerau taking action. We want to see films that inspire, foster hope and show pathways to action, to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in Tai Tokerau.

Your five to seven-minute film will share the stories of a project, group or action’s people are taking. Maybe your school has a tree planting and recycling scheme? Maybe you know a farmer who’s been planting trees or farming regeneratively? Do you know any activists, scientists or artists who are up to some awesome climate action things?

Be creative! you can use music, animation, documentary, avant-garde… just as long as your film is inspiring and clearly shows how people in Tai Tokerau are working to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Check out this page here, as it has loads of info about filmmaking and topic ideas.

https://northlandclimatechange.org/filmcompetition/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKPWGtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0cGVIcTg5anNteHBmdDI1AR76eYFuwO07uooAHdkZnYxFQMdbflthKyD7zEVyZpW7WdvDn6W7X3GpAcdzoA_aem_03dIzMKfRvFcMru2ITGg7w

Welcome to the 2025 Climate Action Film Competition! The climate crisis is scary, but there are a lot of people in Te Tai Tokerau taking action. We want to see films that inspire, foster hope and s…

28/03/2024

Young people who want their voices heard now have the chance to stand up for their communities on the Far North Youth Council (FNYC). Check out our video where Far North District Councillor Tāmati Rākena outlines why the voice of youth is so important to our communities and why we need you to get involved.

31/05/2023

🌟 Be a changemaker, join the Youth Advisory Board! 📣🌍💪

Are you passionate about shaping the future? We're in the process of establishing our Youth Advisory Board, and we want YOU to be a part of it! As a member, you'll have the incredible opportunity to influence our programs and initiatives, making a real impact on the lives of young people in Te Hiku. We're looking for enthusiastic individuals between the ages of 13-23, residing in Te Hiku or with an active connection to the area.

If you're ready to be a voice for change, contribute your ideas, and help build safer communities, we want to hear from you! 🙌🌟 To learn more and express your interest, contact us at 0800 BE SAFE or email [email protected]. Together, let's create a brighter future for the youth in our community! 💙

07/03/2023

Young people see the world in a unique way. We want to hear what you think and how we can make the Far North a better place for rangatahi.

Applications are now OPEN for the Far North Youth Council (FNYC). The FNYC has been running since 2016, and is a youth-led, youth development initiative. Over 126 youth have represented their communities through this programme over the past 6 years.

Youth Councillors will get tools to build their networks, be an advocate for Far North youth and be given opportunities for personal, professional development and growth

There are 9 hui planned to include one away trip to Wellington to attend the Festival for the Future event. Meetings will be both face to face and online, your attendance at all hui is expected. The key dates are:

March 1st to March 14th applications are OPEN for FNYC positions
March 16th – Meeting One – FACE TO FACE or Online
April 13th – Meeting Two – FACE TO FACE or Online
YOUTH WEEK – May 11th – Meeting Three – FACE TO FACE or Online
June 7 – 9th – Meeting Four – Festival for the Future Wellington trip – FACE TO FACE
July 13th – Meeting Five – FACE TO FACE or Online
August 17th – Meeting Six – FACE TO FACE or Online
September 14th – Meeting Seven – FACE TO FACE or Online
General Election Month – October 12th – Meeting Eight – FACE TO FACE or Online
November 16th – Meeting Eight – FACE TO FACE or Online
December 8th – Meeting Nine – End of year activity – FACE TO FACE

These fixed meetings do not include ad-hoc meetings/ get togethers/ discussions/ workshops/ training sessions held throughout this year alongside the above schedule.

Want to find out more?

https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Your-district/Community-Development/Far-North-Youth-Council

Send an email to [email protected]

The Far North Youth Council works alongside Far North District Council to provide a youth voice

04/08/2022

What a fantastic weekend in Wellington for the "Festival for the Future" event

08/07/2022

Our very own Joe Howells (Kerikeri High School, Far North Youth Councillor) last week took out the top spot as a co-winner of the Race Unity National Speech Awards with his speech on racial equality, and the potential for New Zealand to be the first country in the world to abolish racism.

This is an INCREDIBLE achievement, and we are exceptionally proud of Joe, who I know is going great places. Joe has been a Youth Councillor with FNYC for a number of years now.

You can read more about the awards here, as well as watch the livestream of the finals that were held over last weekend. Joe and his co-winner Sheryl, were also interviewed on Breakfast morning show.

Information on the regional heats of the Race Unity Speech Awards

05/05/2022

Youth Week sports pop up!

To celebrate Youth Week, Parafed Northland is holding a sports pop up at Northland College Gym, Kaikohe from 10am Saturday 14 May. It’s by youth for youth, and creates a space for rangatahi with or without disabilities wanting to get involved in sports and social activities. All friends and whanau welcome. 🏈🏒🧑‍🦽🏀

Come along for spot prizes and Kai. 🌭👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Youth Week is a nationwide festival of events organised by young New Zealanders to celebrate the talents, passion, and success of rangatahi.

24/03/2022

Young people see the world in a unique way. We want to hear what you think and how we can make the Far North a better place for rangatahi.

Applications are now OPEN for the Far North Youth Council (FNYC). The FNYC has been running since 2016, and is a youth-led, youth development initiative. Over 120 youth have represented their communities through this programme over the past 6 years.
Youth Councillors will get tools to build their networks, be an advocate for Far North youth and be given opportunities for personal, professional development and growth

There are 9 hui planned including one away trip to Wellington to attend the Festival for the Future event. Meetings will be both face to face and online, and attendance at all hui is expected. The key dates are;

• March 23rd to April 8th 2022, applications OPEN for FNYC positions
• April 21st – Meeting One – FACE TO FACE (Covid dependent) or Online
• May 19th – Meeting Two – ONLINE
• June 23rd – Meeting Three – ONLINE
• July 29th – 31st Festival for the Future Wellington – Meeting Four - FACE TO FACE
• August 18th – Meeting Five – FACE TO FACE (Covid dependent) or Online
• September 22nd – Meeting Six ONLINE
• ELECTION MONTH – October 13th Meeting Seven – FACE TO FACE (Covid dependent) or Online
• November 17th – Meeting Eight ONLINE
• December 2nd – Meeting Nine - End of year activity - FACE TO FACE (Covid dependent)

These fixed meetings do not include ad-hoc meetings/ get togethers/ discussion sessions held throughout this year alongside the above schedule.

Want to find out more?

Follow the FNYC Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FarNorthYouthCouncil

Follow us on Instagram

Send an email to [email protected]

08/03/2022

The same kids who are debating mock bills now will likely be debating real ones in the near future.

21/10/2021

There's still time to apply to join Youth Parliament as a Youth MP for Willow-Jean Prime or one of our other local Members of Parliament!
100% recommended by our former FNYC members who have taken up these opportunities in the past.
Ka mau te wehi!

👀 I’m looking for someone between age 16 to 18 to be my Youth MP.

If you are passionate about community issues and you live in the Northland electorate apply to be my youth MP!

Youth Parliament is held every three years, and is a unique opportunity for young New Zealanders to learn first-hand about our democracy, influence government decision-making, and have their voices heard.

During the six-month programme, Youth MPs will engage with their communities and prepare for a two-day event at Parliament in Wellington in July 2022.

Read all about this awesome opportunity here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/youth-parliament-2022/

Applications close 5pm, 29 October 2021

24/09/2021

Ka pai Malindi!

Our Head Girl, Malindi Reihana-Ruka, held a talk at school yesterday for all the Middle & Senior School students. Malindi spoke about the many opportunities and experiences she has been involved in whilst a student at Springbank School. Malindi talked about her fond memories of joining a youth trip on the R Tucker Thompson, representing Springbank and Northland in surfing competitions, participating in OPC both on Great Barrier Island and at Tongariro, being accepted to attend the BLAKE Inspire week, being part of the Youth Council, being a representative of Study Northland, taking part in speech competitions, community projects, and taking on the role Prefect and Head Girl. This names just a few of the many opportunities Malindi has said yes to!

Malindi talked about gaining a lot of self-confidence, improving her leadership skills, taking herself out of her comfort zone, as well as making new life-long friends through the many opportunities she put her hand up for. The key message Malindi gave to her fellow peers was WHY NOT? Why not say yes to that speech competition? Why not put your hand up to be a school prefect? Why not apply for that student conference?

Malindi’s talk offered simple yet effective advice to her peers on how they could take advantage of opportunities on offer and also research new opportunities for themselves.

For a full report on her talk, check out the upcoming September newsletter.